BHA Welfare Initiative

Every horse deserves Thinline

We are delighted to announce that finally, once again, we can supply our friends, colleagues and clients with the wonderful pads from ThinLine.

During their absence from the UK we have tried so many other products produced here, in Europe and the USA but nothing has matched the concussional properties and comfort for horse and rider that Thinline offers.

These pads are perfect for any horse but a must for horses that have back issues especially kissing spine and they do not compromise saddle fit.

ThinLine Technology:

Historically, equine products work on a compression basis, meaning they compress then spring back or, like gel, move away from pressure.

What makes ThinLine unique is its technology. ThinLine is an open-cell foam which moves shock, weight, and heat laterally along the pad, boot, or girth. Beginning as a liquid, microscopic cells are poured into a mold then polarized so each cell lies end to end creating a tunnel. Another layer is poured in the mold and polarized in a new direction. In each ThinLine pad, this process is repeated hundreds of times creating a honey comb matrix. This structure allows ThinLine to move shock, heat, and weight laterally, much like the ripple effect of throwing a stone into water. ThinLine products also carry tensile strength so that pressure is actually distributed. Behind every pressure point there is always a hollow point. ThinLine products work to relieve pressure points by adding to the hollow points.

Impact moves across ThinLine producing a completely different ride your horse will love. Open cell technology transfers recoil off the horse’s back laterally rather than directly up into the base of the rider’s spine. The magic lies in the way ThinLine absorbs shock but allows the rider to truly feel the horses back. Motion is reduced by the rider and the horse and rider can work together in unison

Integrity and softness allow ThinLine to flex and stretch over high withers, around bones, splints, girths or saddle pressure points without bottoming out (like memory foam, or moving, like gel).

When warmed to body temperature ThinLine conforms to the horse supporting tendons, muscles; relieving pressure and impact. When returned to room temperature 75° F, it rebounds to its original shape allowing ThinLine products to mould every day and to every horse.

Thinline pads also provide comfort for the rider.

Of course all horses gain or lose a bit of weight depending on work load, time of year and so on or may lose some muscle tone for some reason.

These changes can warrant the need for temporary shims to ensure saddle fit remains correct. With this in mind Thinline have made pads that have shim pockets.

Depending on exact requirements there are 3 position options - front, centre and rear or if a horse is really under-developed on one side of its spinal single shim that is the entire length of the pad can be fitted into the pocket.

Thinline is also available in a half pad.

These pads are designed with a "spine free channel" i.e. - the Ultra Thinline lays either side of the spine so there is absolutely no pressure on the spine.

This pad termed the "Trifectra" is shimmable at the front, centre (for bridging) and at the rear in the same way as the full pad (as illustrated above) is.

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Or if you you are not a half pad fan just use a Thinline or Ultra Thinline pad. These pads can be used directly under the saddle but if you prefer there is no compromising of saddle fit, comfort or effect if you elect to use a thin saddle cloth next to the skin.

These are the pads we use here at Equine Management and Training for everyday working as we are not fans of half pads; the reason for this being that depending on a horse's build and shape, the edge of a half pad can sit on the rib heads and be a source of annoyance and/or discomfort.

Thinline also produce a range of reins, girth and boots and it is their Cobra Sports " Medicine Boots" which are in our tackroom.

These boots not only provide excellent impact protection but also invaluable support making them the perfect choice for us when bringing horses that have any kind of leg injury back into work. The uniquely designed suspensory strap stretches with each stride, allowing full movement and helping to eliminate hyper extension of the fetlock.

Cobra boots are extremely slim compared to traditional Sport Medicine Boots, so look neat and and not at all bulky. Being pliable they are very comfortable and as Thinline vents heat legs stay cool; the exterior ventilated neoprene conforms to your horse, allows heat and moisture to escape, and keeps your horse cool,comfortable and performing at it’s best. And being breathable the boots promote healthy skin. The boot provides 360 degrees of protection, safeguarding the cannon bone, tendons and soft tissue, and is proven to absorb energy from hoof impact.